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In Shakespeare’s plays the fool is not really foolish. I... - Moments Supplementary Reader
In Shakespeare’s plays the fool is not really foolish. If you have read or seen Shakespeare’s plays such as King Lear, As You Like
It, Twelfth Night, you may talk about the role of the fool. Do you know any stories in your language about wise fools, such
as Tenali Rama or Gopal Bhar? You can also read about them in Ramanujan’s collection of folk tales.
In Shakespeare’s plays, the ‘fool’ is not actually foolish; instead, he is a witty and wise character. He uses humor and satire to tell the truth to the King that others are afraid to say. He acts as a voice of reason hidden behind jokes.
In Indian folklore, we have similar characters like Tenali Rama and Gopal Bhar. They are often called "wise fools" because they use their cleverness and sharp wit to solve complex problems and teach lessons to the powerful. These stories, like those in Ramanujan’s collection, show that intelligence and presence of mind are more important than being serious or traditionally powerful.